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Channel tunnel traffic on the rise, despite French rail strikes
Channel tunnel operator Getlink (previously Eurotunnel) saw its net profits for the first half of the year increase by 15% to €39 million, despite SNCF French rail strikes that wiped €4.5 million from its pre-tax income.
The company said it is still on track to earn €545 million for the full year before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation.
In the first half of the year the number of cars using the tunnel rose 2% to 1.163 million, but the number of coaches was down 2% to 27,274.
Revenue from its shuttle services was up 5% to €296 million, which Getlink said was due to its dynamic pricing policy for both passenger and truck traffic.
The number of train passengers using the tunnel rose 3% to 5.198 million, which was boosted by the launch of direct services between London and Amsterdam in April.
Passenger volumes were a first-half record for Eurostar despite the SNCF strikes, while freight train volumes rose 12%, bringing in €147 million for Getlink in the first six months of the year.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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